Jason Voorhees is back on the big screen, hockey mask and all.

A new Friday the 13th movie, the thirteenth instalment, is coming to theatres for the first time in nearly two decades, with Steve Miner, director of the slasher franchise’s second and third films, at the helm. Emerging screenwriter David Fliegel is penning the script.

The film returns the franchise to its independent roots, with Horror, Inc. producing and Cineverse (Terrifier 3) distributing in the US. Horror, Inc. holds the rights to the hockey mask and the sequels, but not the original 1980 film, which Peacock and A24’s prequel series Crystal Lake was based on.

“For generations of fans, Jason’s identity is inseparable from the creative choices Steve Miner brought to the screen,” said Robbie Barsamian, Executive Vice President of Horror, Inc. “Reuniting with Steve under a fully independent model allows us the creative control to honor what makes Jason the greatest slasher of all time and deliver the definitive theatrical event that today’s audiences expect.”

CatchLight Studios (Heretic, Umma) will serve as Horror, Inc.’s production partner. Co-Founder Jeanette Volturno added, “Bringing an icon like Jason back to the screen requires dedication to craft and a deep respect for the fandom. We’re excited to collaborate with Steve and Robbie to create a practically-shot film that is relentless, cinematic and terrifying.”

While Pamela Voorhees was the original film’s villain, as explored in this year’s Crystal Lake, the big draw here is the return of adult Jason and the iconic hockey mask. “When I put the hockey mask on Jason for Friday the 13th Part III,” Miner said. “I knew it would create a truly scary image that would work for that movie. I had no idea that it would live on as one of the most iconic symbols in horror films. I’m thrilled to come back and continue the legacy.”

“Jason is one of the most recognizable figures in cinema history,” said Chris McGurk, Chairman and CEO of Cineverse We have a proven track record of empowering uncompromising genre filmmaking and connecting it directly with passionate audiences, and are honored to be a part of bringing Jason back to theaters where he belongs.”

Meanwhile, a reboot of another infamous slasher franchise, A Nightmare on Elm Street, is in development at Paramount Primal. In another case of complicated franchise rights, the film is based exclusively on Wes Craven’s original 1984 screenplay.